Category: 2020-21 Picks

Last weeks scores were posted earlier in the week and yours truly is already falling behind the leaders. Going to keep the analysis quick and to the point this week.

Your Comments
JE: “I wish I could actually know which united are going to turn up!”
Someone overheard Ole saying the same thing as he wandered around Manchester looking for Pogba.

JE: “Fulham will beat wba in the match of the weekend. Lol.”
Match of the season!

ME: “Covid is draining my footballing spirit… but I will keep the guesses coming!”
2 Days ago: Manchester United announces they are ready to hold 23,500 fans
1 Day ago: Manchester United’s back Telles tests positive for Covid-19

AA: “I wonder what clubs the F1 drivers support…”
I was surprise to find out that F1 Champion Hamilton supports Arsenal. I thought he was a big enough knob to support Chelsea!

Friday, October 30, 2020

Wolverhampton WDWWL

2-0

Crystal Palace LWDLL

Wolverhampton	2-0	Crystal Palace	30 Oct 2020
Wolverhampton	2-0	Crystal Palace	20 Jul 2020
Crystal Palace	1-1	Wolverhampton	22 Sep 2019
Wolverhampton	0-2	Crystal Palace	02 Jan 2019
Crystal Palace	0-1	Wolverhampton	06 Oct 2018

Easy win. Wolves are improving and Palace are worsening. Wouldn’t be surprised if it is more but definitely a clean sheet.

Saturday, October 31, 2020

Burnley LDLLL

1-2

Chelsea DDWDL

Chelsea	3-0	Burnley	11 Jan 2020
Burnley	2-4	Chelsea	26 Oct 2019
Chelsea	2-2	Burnley	22 Apr 2019
Burnley	0-4	Chelsea	28 Oct 2018
Burnley	1-2	Chelsea	19 Apr 2018

As Bob Mortimer says on Athletico Mince – If you want to score, get the ball off the floor and remember….. shit, piles, roadkill, eggnog…. and that’s the Burnley way!

The Burnley way in this case will be eeking out a result as they start to improve.

Sheffield United LDLLL

1-3

Manchester City DWDLW

Sheffield United	0-1	Manchester City	21 Jan 2020
Manchester City	2-0	Sheffield United	29 Dec 2019

A tough one for Citeh who are struggling to get things together. I think watching Citeh and Liverpool play allows you to see how much COVID is impacting the game. The organization, the training, the timing, the teamwork isn’t there. Too much space in the game and too much of a practice five-a-side feel.

They will pull out a comfortable win after falling behind early.

Liverpool WDLWW

2-0

West Ham United DDWWL

Liverpool	3-2	West Ham United	24 Feb 2020
West Ham United	0-2	Liverpool	29 Jan 2020
West Ham United	1-1	Liverpool	04 Feb 2019
Liverpool	4-0	West Ham United	12 Aug 2018
Liverpool	4-1	West Ham United	24 Feb 2018

Liverpool are without VVD but they still have a team of superstars.

Sunday, November 1, 2020

Aston Villa LWWWW

1-2

Southampton WDWWL

Southampton	2-0	Aston Villa	22 Feb 2020
Aston Villa	1-3	Southampton	21 Dec 2019

Villa got some great early season results but I see them hitting a rough patch.

Tottenham Hotspur WDWDW

2-0

Brighton and Hove Albion DDLLW

Tottenham Hotspur	2-1	Brighton and Hove Albion	26 Dec 2019
Brighton and Hove Albion	3-0	Tottenham Hotspur	05 Oct 2019
Tottenham Hotspur	1-0	Brighton and Hove Albion	23 Apr 2019
Brighton and Hove Albion	1-2	Tottenham Hotspur	22 Sep 2018
Brighton and Hove Albion	1-1	Tottenham Hotspur	17 Apr 2018

Every meeting with Jose will have him talking about keeping a clean sheet. Maybe he doesn’t like laundry.

Manchester United DWLWL

2-3

Arsenal LLWLW

Arsenal	2-0	Manchester United	01 Jan 2020
Manchester United	1-1	Arsenal	30 Sep 2019
Arsenal	2-0	Manchester United	10 Mar 2019
Manchester United	2-2	Arsenal	05 Dec 2018
Manchester United	2-1	Arsenal	29 Apr 2018

Who the hell knows ? Arsenal will jump into a 2-0 lead and think everything is great. Then the comeback as the referee ignores Harry Maguire beating up someone in the box and immediately on the following attack Bruno falls over his own feet and gets a penalty. A quick stunner and it’s 2-2 before Harry Maguire gives a penalty away the one time he doesn’t molest someone from a corner.

Newcastle DLWDL

1-1

Everton LDWWW

Everton	2-2	Newcastle	21 Jan 2020
Newcastle	1-2	Everton	28 Dec 2019
Newcastle	3-2	Everton	09 Mar 2019
Everton	1-1	Newcastle	05 Dec 2018
Everton	1-0	Newcastle	23 Apr 2018

Everton are missing two key players through suspension. Newcastle are looking better.

Monday, November 2, 2020

Fulham LDLLL

1-1

West Bromwich Albion DDLDL

West Bromwich Albion	0-0	Fulham	14 Jul 2020
Fulham	1-1	West Bromwich Albion	14 Sep 2019

West Brom play out a bore draw in this game of the week!

Leeds United WLDWW

2-2

Leicester City WLLWW

No prior form results for these two. I tend to think that Bamford used up his goal allotment last week so they will need to find goals elsewhere. and I’m sure they will find enough to get a great and thrilling draw

Well it’s been two weeks since the last games but I think I can knock up a quick analysis.

Saturday, October 17, 2020

Manchester City DLW

2-1

Arsenal WLWW

Manchester City	3-0	Arsenal	17 Jun 2020
Arsenal	0-3	Manchester City	15 Dec 2019
Manchester City	3-1	Arsenal	03 Feb 2019
Arsenal	0-2	Manchester City	12 Aug 2018
Arsenal	0-3	Manchester City	01 Mar 2018

Neither of these teams are going to win the league but it’s a top of the table clash between mentor and mentee. Mentor seems unable to buy a good defense and goalkeeper. Mentee inherited a bad defense. Mentor has seen performances dip. Mentee has seen performances improve. Conclusion: Mentor wins.

Leicester City LWWW

3-1

Aston Villa WWW

Leicester City	4-0	Aston Villa	09 Mar 2020
Aston Villa	1-4	Leicester City	08 Dec 2019

Will the Villains really start with 4 wins? No they won’t. Vardy rescues a lackluster team having taken a week off.

Newcastle WDLW

2-2

Manchester United LWL

Manchester United	4-1	Newcastle	26 Dec 2019
Newcastle	1-0	Manchester United	06 Oct 2019
Newcastle	0-2	Manchester United	02 Jan 2019
Manchester United	3-2	Newcastle	06 Oct 2018
Newcastle	1-0	Manchester United	11 Feb 2018

An early scare for The Reds Devils as Newcastle jump on a dubious and nervy Manchester United. Bruno will score two stupid jump-bounce penalties in the last 10 minutes to make AM and JE feel better.

Sheffield United LLLL

2-2

Fulham LLLL

Fulham	3-0	Sheffield United	06 Mar 2018
Sheffield United	4-5	Fulham	21 Nov 2017

What a clash of giants. One team will not have full five game losing record. It won’t be Fulham. It won’t be Sheffield. It might be both.

Chelsea WDLW

2-1

Southampton WWLL

Chelsea	0-2	Southampton	26 Dec 2019
Southampton	1-4	Chelsea	06 Oct 2019
Chelsea	0-0	Southampton	02 Jan 2019
Southampton	0-3	Chelsea	07 Oct 2018
Southampton	2-3	Chelsea	14 Apr 2018

Chelsea are a decent team and have a manager who doesn’t settle for poor performances. Expect changes and an improvement in performances.

Everton WWWW

2-1

Liverpool LWWW

Everton	0-0	Liverpool	21 Jun 2020
Liverpool	5-2	Everton	04 Dec 2019
Everton	0-0	Liverpool	03 Mar 2019
Liverpool	1-0	Everton	02 Dec 2018
Everton	0-0	Liverpool	07 Apr 2018

Usually I would pick this as a 1-0 to the home team with 1 red card. This year is different as I think both teams are capable of banging in the goals. Bit more effort on the part of Everton sees them victorious (as does a dubious penalty).

West Bromwich Albion LDLL

1-2

Burnley LLL

West Bromwich Albion	1-2	Burnley	31 Mar 2018
Burnley	0-1	West Bromwich Albion	19 Aug 2017
Burnley	2-2	West Bromwich Albion	06 May 2017
West Bromwich Albion	4-0	Burnley	21 Nov 2016

A game no-one will watch.

Sunday, October 18, 2020

Crystal Palace LLWW

2-0

Brighton and Hove Albion LLWL

Brighton and Hove Albion	0-1	Crystal Palace	29 Feb 2020
Crystal Palace	1-1	Brighton and Hove Albion	16 Dec 2019
Crystal Palace	1-2	Brighton and Hove Albion	09 Mar 2019
Brighton and Hove Albion	3-1	Crystal Palace	04 Dec 2018
Crystal Palace	3-2	Brighton and Hove Albion	14 Apr 2018

Palace are significantly better this year. Brighton are significantly better this year. Palace’s better is better than Brighton’s better.

Tottenham Hotspur WDWL

3-1

West Ham United WWLL

Tottenham Hotspur	2-0	West Ham United	23 Jun 2020
West Ham United	2-3	Tottenham Hotspur	23 Nov 2019
Tottenham Hotspur	0-1	West Ham United	27 Apr 2019
West Ham United	0-1	Tottenham Hotspur	20 Oct 2018
Tottenham Hotspur	1-1	West Ham United	04 Jan 2018

Gareth Bale and Harry Kane ! They should be a two goal West Ham destroying machine but Son will score both.

Monday, October 19, 2020

Leeds United DWWL

2-1

Wolverhampton WLLW

Leeds United	0-3	Wolverhampton	07 Mar 2018
Wolverhampton	4-1	Leeds United	22 Nov 2017

It’s a toss-up and my coin said heads 3 tails 2.

Some updates to the format. I’m still tweaking it but I want to do analysis each week and make it easy and quick enough that I can find something amusing as an aside!

I’ve added the latest five results for each team with the most recent on the left. An underline means the result was away from home. This only considers Premier League games.

I’ve also added the last results between the teams where they apply. Next up a page that shows picks and points so you all know exactly how you are doing!

Your Comments

AA: “Goals goals goals! (hopefully)”
Seems to be the way this year so far. I am finding it hard to watch the games. The space, the timing, the intensity is all off. A lot of players seem to be able to just dribble up the middle and into chances with only a modicum of effort.

ME: “Surely we cannot get another week of high scores… so I have kept everybody on no more than two goals….except for Man Pretty and Spurs. Highlight is Liverpool and Arsenal and i expect the home team to win but only just. I can’t see Fulham posing a threat to anyone this year and they will lose to Villa who could end up a middle table side this year (I’ll probably regret saying this in a few weeks) Not much else to say this week.”
Of course, Spurs. Off course, Spurs. I don’t think Aston Villa were bad last year – they lost McGinn for a big portion of the season which hurt them.

Saturday, September 26, 2020

Brighton and Hove Albion WL

0-2

Manchester United L

Brighton and Hove Albion 0-3 Manchester United, 30 Jun 2020
Manchester United 3-1 Brighton and Hove Albion, 10 Nov 2019
Manchester United 2-1 Brighton and Hove Albion, 19 Jan 2019
Brighton and Hove Albion 3-2 Manchester United, 19 Aug 2018
Brighton and Hove Albion 1-0 Manchester United, 04 May 2018

It’s hard to see Manchester losing to Brighton who I have pegged to be a bottom dweller. The highest paid player in the league is the goalkeeper so he’ll be keen on a clean sheet.

 

Burnley L

2-1

Southampton LL

Southampton 1-2 Burnley, 15 Feb 2020
Burnley 3-0 Southampton, 10 Aug 2019
Burnley 1-1 Southampton, 02 Feb 2019
Southampton 0-0 Burnley, 12 Aug 2018
Burnley 1-1 Southampton, 24 Feb 2018

Both teams cannot continue to lose. Southampton had a great run in the second half of the season but have started poorly. I tossed a coin and I got two heads and a tail.

 

Crystal Palace WW

1-1

Everton WW

Everton 3-1 Crystal Palace, 08 Feb 2020
Crystal Palace 0-0 Everton, 10 Aug 2019
Crystal Palace 0-0 Everton, 27 Apr 2019
Everton 2-0 Crystal Palace, 21 Oct 2018
Everton 3-1 Crystal Palace, 10 Feb 2018

Both teams cannot continue to win! I tossed a coin and I got one head and one tail and the last one rolled under the couch and I couldn’t see what it showed.

 

Fulham LL

1-2

Aston Villa W

Aston Villa 0-1 Fulham, 26 May 2018
Fulham 2-0 Aston Villa, 17 Feb 2018
Aston Villa 2-1 Fulham, 21 Oct 2017

I have Fulham really struggling to stay up this year.  I tossed a virtual coin because the last one is under the couch and it landed heads once and tails twice.

 

Liverpool WW

3-1

Arsenal WW

Arsenal 2-1 Liverpool, 15 Jul 2020
Liverpool 3-1 Arsenal, 24 Aug 2019
Liverpool 5-1 Arsenal, 29 Dec 2018
Arsenal 1-1 Liverpool, 03 Nov 2018
Arsenal 3-3 Liverpool, 22 Dec 2017

Arsenal are much improved under Arteta but they still have David Luiz and that’s worth at least a goal for Liverpool. Auba will always be able to put one in but I just see Xhaka seeing red or doing something daft.

 

Manchester City W

3-1

Leicester City WW

Leicester City 0-1 Manchester City, 22 Feb 2020
Manchester City 3-1 Leicester City, 21 Dec 2019
Manchester City 1-0 Leicester City, 06 May 2019
Leicester City 2-1 Manchester City, 26 Dec 2018
Manchester City 5-1 Leicester City, 10 Feb 2018

Still not sold on Leicester getting over there end of season collapse. I’m not sold on Man City being good enough to win the title either.

 

Sheffield United LL

3-4

Leeds United WL

Leeds United 0-1 Sheffield United, 16 Mar 2019
Sheffield United 0-1 Leeds United, 01 Dec 2018
Sheffield United 2-1 Leeds United, 10 Feb 2018
Leeds United 1-2 Sheffield United, 27 Oct 2017

All league games featuring Leeds will finish 4-3 this year. Bit of a derby so I expect to see each team end with one less player at the end of the game than the number they had at the start of the game.

 

Tottenham Hotspur WL

2-1

Newcastle LW

Newcastle 1-3 Tottenham Hotspur, 15 Jul 2020
Tottenham Hotspur 0-1 Newcastle, 25 Aug 2019
Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Newcastle, 02 Feb 2019
Newcastle 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur, 11 Aug 2018
Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Newcastle, 09 May 2018

Jose will get his team more and more organized. Gareth Bale will score two. Of course he will. That way he can underachieve for the rest of the year but still talk about his two spectacular goals on his homecoming. It’s how he works – what did he do other than a crazy overhead bicycle kick in the Champions League final?

 

West Bromwich Albion LL

0-3

Chelsea LW

Chelsea 3-0 West Bromwich Albion, 12 Feb 2018
West Bromwich Albion 0-4 Chelsea, 18 Nov 2017
West Bromwich Albion 0-1 Chelsea, 12 May 2017
Chelsea 1-0 West Bromwich Albion, 11 Dec 2016

I fancy West Brom to start the season with a number of losses and then spend an entire two thirds of the season trying to make up for it. Chelsea are way too good.

 

West Ham United LL

1-1

Wolverhampton LW

West Ham United 0-2 Wolverhampton, 20 Jun 2020
Wolverhampton 2-0 West Ham United, 04 Dec 2019
Wolverhampton 3-0 West Ham United, 29 Jan 2019
West Ham United 0-1 Wolverhampton, 01 Sep 2018

Wolves own West Ham but this is the team managed by the dynamic David Moyes. David Moyes, the only man capable of replacing Sir Alex. A draw sounds about right.

I tried to get everything ready for this week but it hasn’t quite gone as smoothly as I wanted. There will be four SuperComputers this year that will be vying for the top spot. SC2 has finished in the top 3 every year so they will be gunning for top spot.

I’ll look to get things sorted out over the first few weeks.

I’m looking to go with some standard layouts to make the weekly game posts quicker to free up some time for ridiculous commentary like the good old days. I will still include your comments so keep sending them in.

For now – this is how I expect the games to be formatted… nice and tidy!

I’ll be adding a formatted prediction table and, sooner or later, a SuperComputer win percentage calculator!

Monday, September 12, 2020

Burnley

P-P

Manchester United

Postponed due to Manchester City not playing as many games in the Champions League as they would have liked.

Crystal Palace

1-1

Southampton

Crystal Palace haven’t changed too much so we can expect them to be a middle-of-the-road team again. Southampton ended the season well but sold a couple of players and appear to be destined to stay a middle-of-the-road team.

That means we can expect a head on collision and a score draw.

Fulham

0-2

Arsenal

It’s a London derby between the new boys Fulham and the old guard Arsenal. The Gunners are the team that I think underperformed the most (of those that stayed up, I’m not talking about Watford) and I’m expecting a dominant performance. Aubameyang will score umpteen goals this year.

Liverpool

3-0

Leeds United

It’s going to be hard for newly promoted team to compete with the Red Army.  I’m not sure why I dislike Leeds – it could be they gave Cantona to Manchester United which led to years of dominance.  It could be the reputation of their fans for being racist (Is that still true or am I confusing them with Millwall?)  I do know they seem keen on telling everyone who they are.  

Manchester City

3-0

Aston Villa

Postponed due to Manchester City not playing as many games in the Champions League as they would have liked.

Tottenham Hotspur

2-1

Everton

I don’t see Jose surviving the season but with Kane upfront they always have a good chance. I expect Everton to be the disappointing team of the season (bottom half). Lots of hope on a player with a decent World Cup in 2018 but hasn’t done anything since.

West Bromwich Albion

0-2

Leicester City

Leicester ended the season horribly! Most pundits seemed surprised as if they didn’t realize that James Maddison was a key player and his being missing would have an impact.   They should put one over on their midland rivals.

 

West Ham United

1-1

Newcastle

What a dire opening fixture.  Enough said.  

Monday, September 14, 2020

Brighton and Hove Albion

1-2

Chelsea

Chelsea over-achieved last year. There are continued expectation that are now being placed on Lampard. He was an intelligent player, and by all accounts, likeable. I expect Chelsea to get off to a good start. Pulisic will feature much more this year.

 

Sheffield United

1-2

Wolverhampton

Both decent teams but I think the Blades just had one of those great seasons last year whereas Wolves are a genuinely class team. The improvement of “The Muscle” has been tremendous. He has gone from a sprinter with pace to a footballer with pace. I expect a good season from Traore though I”m surprised to see him at right wing back!